A work of fiction is a creative STORY that is not based on fact. A novella is a short NOVEL, usually between 20, 000 and 40, 000 words in length. A ROMANCE is a genre of fiction that focuses on love and relationships. A WHODUNIT is a type of mystery STORY in which the reader is challenged to identify the perpetrator of a crime. A NOVEL is a longer work of fiction, typically over 40, 000 words in length. A novelette is a short NOVEL, usually between 7, 500 and 17, 500 words in length. A STORY is a narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader. A FABLE is a short STORY, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral lesson. A PAPERBACK is a type of book bound with a flexible cover, usually printed on low-quality paper.